Andy Priaulx in Pole Position with Airtel-Vodafone

Guernsey-born Andy Priaulx is a triple FIA World Touring Car Champion, having won three consecutive titles from 2005 to 2007 and in the last couple of weeks it has been announced that he will be one of four drivers in the BMW M3 GT2 Art Car that will compete in the 24 hours of Le Mans.

He has previously been a multiple race and championship winner in diverse branches of motorsport and continues to excel at the very highest level in tin-top motor racing on a global scale. He was also an official test driver for the Williams Formula 1 team in 2005 and is a regular starter in one of the toughest tests of endurance racing in the world, at the Nurburgring in Germany.

The Armor All Gold Coast 600 is the race component of SuperCarnivale, the recently re-launched three day extravaganza. This event is shaping up to be the biggest on the V8 Supercar calendar and will prove that Andy is arguably one of the most adaptable and successful drivers in the sport today.

“Andy has high ambitions for 2010, these as always, will be fuelled with the support of his island home,” explains Airtel-Vodafone CEO Iain Williams. “Andy is a complete professional in everything he sets his sights on and we want to play a part in supporting his ambition and to rally our Guernsey customers to cheer him on. Airtel-Vodafone is a young, driven, professional organisation which makes a difference to its customers. We therefore see a natural synergy with Andy, as his characteristics and goals mirror our own.”

Andy has received accolades including British Competition and Club Driver of the Year from readers of Autosport, the BRDC Gold Medal, two BRDC Gold Stars, and the BARC Gold Medal from the sport as well as Channel Islands and BBC (SW) Sports Personality of the Year. He has also been honoured by his home community as a Guernsey Ambassador and even twice with his own set of stamps.

“I consider myself extremely lucky to have been born in Guernsey, it’s a fantastic place to grow up. I love my racing and am proud to carry the flag of Guernsey on my racing helmet, bringing recognition and credit to my home island is very close to my heart” says Andy. “I love having the support of the island community but also having the support of Airtel-Vodafone and their customers is an added incentive and will help me to continuously push for excellence both on and off the track and to promote Guernsey and locally-based companies.”

Andy Priaulx received his MBE from Queen Elizabeth II in an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in October last year. The multiple World Touring Car Championship title winner received the award not only for his achievements on the track, but also for his commitment to charity work especially the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation, which was set-up with wife Jo after both of their children were born prematurely.

Alongside his commitment on track, Andy is also a television pundit and an Ambassador for Formula BMW. In his life outside the public eye the little free time he gets is spent out on the water or cycling around Guernsey’s beautiful lanes with his young family.